For a year, fellow North St. Paul officers wore memorial pins in Rick Crittenden’s honor after he was killed in the line of duty on Labor Day 2009.

His widow says that for some, a year is not long enough.

On Thursday, Christine Crittenden canvassed North St. Paul businesses and residences in a petition drive to revise the city’s uniform policy to allow officers to wear the pins beyond a year. She has 400 signatures.

“It’s what I hear the officers want,” she said. “They say every time they take a call, they have a little piece of Rick with them when they wear it.”

Police Chief Tom Lauth said the yearlong period is city policy.

“There’s no disrespect intended,” he said. “There was an exception in order to allow (the pins in the first place.)”

Lauth said uniform policies are in place for reasons. Police departments need limits on the many requests to wear pins for various causes, he said. Safety is another concern; North St. Paul police uniforms, for example, once included nameplates that could catch on things, so the department switched to monogram patches.

Rick Crittenden, 57, was killed when answering a call at Aspen Village apartments in North St. Paul. A woman fearing her estranged husband was in her apartment had called for an officer escort.

When she and the officer entered, 34-year-old Devon Dockery charged at them with a burning rag. Dockery and Crittenden struggled; Dockery grabbed the officer’s holstered gun and shot him in the head.

Dockery died in an exchange of gunfire with Maplewood police officer Julie Olson. A bullet fragment hit Olson’s right arm.

After Crittenden’s death, Lauth gave the “special order” allowing officers to wear the memorial pin, carrying Crittenden’s name and badge number, until the year anniversary. The day after the Sept. 7 anniversary, the uniform policy fell back into place.

Christine Crittenden said officers have said they want to continue wearing the pins but fear retaliation if they challenge the policy. So she is speaking out for them, she said.

“I just want the chief and council to know that they still want to wear it,” she said.

Crittenden and a handful of supporters, petition in hand, asked the North St. Paul City Council this week to reconsider the police uniform policy. Council members said they would review the policy.

On Thursday, the widow sought to build support, going door to door for petition signatures. The goal is giving officers the option of wearing her husband’s memorial pin, or others like it, year-round.

Lauth said the community memorializes Crittenden in other ways. Officers will be asked to wear the memorial pin on the anniversary of his death, as well as mourning bands and their dress uniforms.

“Out of our respect for Richard, we’ll put out our best every year on the anniversary of his murder,” he said. “He demands respect.”

A replica of a North St. Paul police badge with Crittenden’s badge number, 933, has been added to squad cars, he said.

And a life-size bronze of Crittenden was unveiled in front of North St. Paul City Hall on the one-year anniversary last month. The North St. Paul Law Enforcement Officers Association spearheaded the effort, which was paid for through community fundraisers.

Christine Crittenden said she plans to urge the North St. Paul City Council again later this month to reconsider the policy.

Such policies vary. The St. Paul police department, for example, has no limit on how long officers can wear such pins as long as certain requirements are met, department spokesman Andy Skoogman said.

St. Paul officers are allowed to wear up to two pins — a flag and another, as long as it represents “a commendation received by the officer, seniority status, St. Paul logo or professional law enforcement affiliation.”

Nancy Ngo is a Minnesota Native who grew up reading the Pioneer Press, so it’s fitting that she would one day work for them. She is a three time Society of Professional Journalists Page One Award winner. Before covering food and lifestyle, she has previously covered government and public safety. She has served on boards including the Asian American Journalists Association and The University of Minnesota’s The School of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni Society Board.

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